All those best-laid plans in shambles. No wonder Tagovailoa was left thanking a higher power: his game tying fourth down touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to Calvin Ridley was intended for Najee Harris and came within a half-second of being batted down. Sometimes even the victors are left humbled, or should be.
To each their own, but some of these comments explain why many down south dismiss the New York Times and it's readers as elitist. We are poor, but we are proud and rightfully so. We love our football and our coach. The University of Alabama is a fine university where both my daughters attend. Change the channel if you don't like the show. Our parade marches on whether you rain on it or not. Great game Georgia Bull Dogs. We will see you again. Roll Tide America!
2
I'll bet you a Coca-Cola that Baker Mayfield said "humble yourself" right after Tagovailoa destroyed Georgia's Cover 2.
1
I have an unusually peaceful feeling today after watching the College Football Championship game between Georgia and Alabama last night. Both teams were impressive and it was a great game. What has put me in this happy-give-peace-a-chance reverie is the grace shown by the two Bama quarterbacks. It is practically unheard of to switch quarterbacks in the middle of a game, but Coach Sabin did it last night. The maturity and support the two young QBs showed for each other was a shining example of sportsmanship that gave the win to Alabama. The unselfishness of putting the team ahead of themselves for the good of all is what is largely absent these days. Thanks and congratulations to all the kids on both teams who put their hearts into the game and came out with a lesson in decency for this nation.
3
I watched the game, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Like one of those jelly-bean gag gifts where the white jelly-bean can either taste like coconut or baby-wipes. It felt lazy and confined like a prison school yard game. And ESPN is simply incapable of producing a proper tv product. Put it back on CBS.
It was SEC vs. SEC. Two teams that had lost to Auburn. Alabama's offense did nothing in the first half. Georgia's did a little bit more. Neither defense seemed overpowering. To be truthful, the first half was pretty much a bore.
Unless there were halftime adjustments to make this a game, I wouldn't last through the third quarter. And then out the door walks this teenage Hawaiian quarterback who was nothing short of spectacular and turned the game into an exciting nailbiter that had to be watched unless you belong to the Society to Eliminate Football. Maybe the kid is a flash in the pan. I think he's a future Heisman winner and who knows after that.
You don't have like sports to appreciate last night's game. But it helps if you have a thing for magic.
3
Incredible game with an incredible finish. The two best teams gave us a game for the ages. Great way to finish off the Bowl Championship Series and the college football year.
1
Why no mention of the non face mask call against Alabama, or the off sides against Georgia that negated a blocked kick that wasn't off sides, or the late hit by Alabama against Jake Fromm that wasn't called. If anyone of those calls had been called correctly, Georgia would be National Champs. It is horrible that these kids fight all year and then it comes down to the clearly over the hill referees deciding the outcome of the game.
1
Roll Tide! What a great ballgame. My mother was a huge Bama fan. I wish she'd been alive to see that game.
It was a great game and a spectacular finish. The strain I'm feeling at work today was worth it. But why are championship games played on weeknights and why is the super bowl played on Sunday evening? These games are events and would be a lot more enjoyable if I didn't have to go to work the next day. It seems to me that the broadcasters and sponsors are leaving money/ratings on the table.
1
Can a reader/viewer tell what happened to the AL kid who collapsed on the sideline during the game?
MTIA
I really struggle to stay up and watch these overhyped spectacles masquerading as amateur sport. A 60 minute plus overtime game that takes 4 hours ? No thanks.
3
Actually I tape them and then fast forward through the ads. Takes me about 40 minutes to watch a whole game (you can also fast forward between plays). How un-American of me to skip 3 hours 20 minutes of branding ads for items that would otherwise be a fifth of their price.
2
Why does college football need playoffs and championships? I recall years ago when networks and sportscaster cried daily for the playoffs and championship game. Now everyone, especially the networks and sportscasters, profits except the student athlete.
2
Alabama continues to win because they gather the best high school athletes in the country every year in the recruiting wars. Saban's genius is he then convinces them to place their personal goals below that of the team. If you don't believe that, take a look at the Alabama depth chart. Packed with 4 and 5 star recruits willing to sit and wait their turn. Get used to seeing Alabama lift the national championship trophy.
6
I don't know which is weirder: the frantic allure of big-time college football or its equally silly dismissal.
Either way, that game last night was a brilliant contest, even on radio!
11
I like football and am glad the sport is forced to make the game safer.
but the link between men's sports (but not women's) and the military- no more in full display than last night- is deeply, deeply disturbing. why, just why?
13
I loved the game,was best since Vince took the Horns up on his back.I will say,I wish things could be more equal.The changes that need to be made is home field advantage and weather condition tossed into mix.Come play in Happy Valley or the Bighouse in January.Two SEC TEAMS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP .This season did make for a epic match up.Buckeyes getting beat and jumping Penn St made for a "Awe the Rose bowl only" which effected play.Now this season,Alabama didn't win their own conference.More game playoff system isn't the answer,so afraid of losing the greatest sport in America.No Patty cake after a score.No using as a stage to kneel during war dead honors.No officials tipping scales.NFL is becoming more and more like WWF.Alabama recruits NFL players and bet most cannot spell Souvenir.lol.I know must use voting to keep games close.I know UCF beat a Auburn who like Georgia,didn't have weeks off as Bama did,but had they been in,wouldn't of been close.Soon coaches will consider it good to not be in conference championship,why not set out to heal up,prepare,get well.?Flawed system and still best in nation.Still considering Georgia and Auburn FIGHTING IT OUT,TO WIN THE SEC,while boxing,the extra shots take toll and Bama was fresh,they should of won.To many Advantages the SEC gets..Nice and warm,two SEC teams in National championship game.Why not change name to SECNCAA.More flexibility during in season scheduling,could let us see how good UCF really is\was...
1
Once Pappanastos missed the 36 yard field goal to end regulation,I became a Alabama fan.Must remember these are young men.I didn't want to see him live with those misses.Pressure sure got to him as it could of done to me had I been there in his shoes.Georgia really showed up.Must recall,Auburn,Georgia fought through some tough games without rest while Alabama rested,prepared,.By no mean's was I knocking the game itself.As usual,NCAA BALL IS MOST EXCITING SPORT IN AMERICA...GOD BLESS COLLEGE FOOTBALL,AMEN!!!!
Please let's add some new teams to the mix or expand the playoffs or both
2
Bama should give the game ball to the refs. They blew the call on the blocked punt, the next play as well. and most egregiously, the no-call when the Bama player shoved the quarterback's head well after the play had been whistled dead.
7
Yet you're not complaining that the Georgia receiver who scored to put UGA up 20-7 clearly had his heel out of bounds during the play?
1
Meh. Who cares? SEC "schools" are mostly NBA & NFL farm teams anyway, not really higher learning institutions.
11
The University of Alabama ranks near the top in enrolling students who are National Merit Finalists for the last several years.
As to the academics one must defer to famous Jet quarterback, Joe Namath, wo when asked by a reporter if he had majored in “basket weaving” he responded, “Journalism, it was easier!!”
Yes, the first half was pretty boring. But I think everyone would have to admit that the second half was anything but. And how about Saban's gutsy call to bring in a freshman quarterback (of course it would have been a viewed as a dumb call if Alabama had lost).
I found it enjoyable and refreshing to watch this college football game--quite a contrast to NFL games with those kneeling clowns. No wonder NFL attendance and viewership are down.
5
Having literally been listening to Alabama football since the fall of 1957, in my mother's womb, the greatest game was the 1967 win over Tennessee with Snake Stabler pulling out a unbelievable win in the last 2 minutes or so.
This win last night surpassed that.
Congratulations Alabama!
And, Roll Tide Roll!
Michael Bain
Glorieta, New Mexico
10
Shoot, that was 1966, not '67, (when the Vols beat Bama in B'ham).
MB
Congratulations Bama, NCAA, ESPN, Corporate America. You've just made -once again- untold millions on the backs of 21st Century slaves.
That it happened -once again- in the Deep South is an irony too delicious to be missed.
7
Ugh. The stupidest overtime formats in physically demanding team sports have these "sudden death" scores that undermine the nature of the game.
Let them play it out in shortened periods, like they do in soccer and basketball.
3
The NFL has a far inferior OT. It's the only sport in the world where both teams are not guaranteed equal chance. We saw that in the Super Bowl last year, with the Green Bay losses (by coin toss) to Arizona and Seattle in back-to-back playoffs. The college OT rules might seem quirky to YOU. But they are equal. And they are exciting. And by shortening the field, they can help ensure fewer injuries late in the game. It's more physically demanding than baseball or basketball.
1
“Football is a game designed to keep coal miners off the streets.” ~~ Jimmy Breslin
6
Or now a game designed to keep researchers on CTE in business.
2
Jimmy Breslin was a genius.
1
What an exciting game...Worth staying up for.
I do think that the comments veering right to Trump discussions is just silly. Is that all people can think about? A complete obsession bordering on a mental disorder. Why make him the center of your world?
10
Best parts of the game...
Liberals going nuts that President Trump was there...that was classic leftist stupidity.
Hurts coming out. As a lifelong Alabama fan...I love the guy...but in big games...so everyone in Alabama was glad to see the change.
Georgia played a great game and Fromm was amazing. So much for red shirting players. How many times did we hear "true freshman" last night. It was the eclipse all over again..."path of totality". I never want to hear either phrase again.
Finally, last night was GREAT for college football. Exciting game...both teams gave it all they had...anyone could have won that thing...and now the stage is set for some great NFL playoffs and Super Bowl.
ROLL TIDE FOREVER!
9
I wasn't upset seeing Trump. I thought it was incredibly sad he couldn't sing the anthem. He obviously doesn't know the words. He just mumbled. I bet Kap knows the words.
9
And he left before halftime. Missed a great game, didn't he? I figured he must have been gone though, otherwise he'd have been on the stage at the end taking credit for Bama's victory.
1
Two things.
1. Liberals were not going nuts the prez was there... we didn't care.... anyway, he should have been at Army-Navy game.
2. Alabama benefited from a quarterback from a very BLUE state...since you injected politics into the discussion....
Auburn beat them. That's all that really matters. War Eagle!
6
Is Saban a great coach? Is Hurts a great gentleman? Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer!
13
I felt the officials missed two calls against Alabama. These were shortly after the new QB came in for Alabama. One was on the offside when Georgia blocked a kick. the second was missing the face mask penalty against Bama. These two missed calls really got Alabama rolling. Alabama is very difficult to beat without
miscalls help.
6
Amazing game, even more amazing finish. We were exhausted, just watching the game. So many great performances on the field, individually and collectively. The results was something to cherish. Congratulations BAMA - 17 in '17! Roll Tide!!
7
The University, its coaches, assistants, and athletic director will profit handsomely from this win.
The players will get a nice ring they can later pawn to pay their rent.
As a former worshipper of college football, this paradigm is unfair and I can't watch until something changes.
3
Alabama - State and Team continues on a winning streak.
9
All these snarky comments, how could you have not loved that game? These two teams competed at a level that is unbelievable for such young athletes. The passion and talent they displayed was incredible.
I think back to how awkward and immature I and most of my peers were as freshmen in college and contrast it with the poise and composure displayed by these two young quarterbacks.
22
I suppose that is a "win" for a team that should not have been in the game, is highly overrated, highly arrogant, and well, basically a well-funded farce. But that's football in much of the South.
3
That was an incredible game. And it beats talking about Oprah for president, for gosh sakes!
5
Did they throw it by running two dumb plays late in the fourth quarter, Sending. the QB out as an end?
Didnt watch, dont care. I refuse to accept that the two best teams for the National Championship are both from the SEC. I know ESPN loves hyping the SEC, but the rest of us are sick of it!
2
ESPN didn't pick the teams. So what are you talking about?
9
Sounds like your beef is with Clemson and Oklahoma. They could have made it zero SEC teams in the final if they were better, but they weren't and didn't.
8
Right. And ESPN has no effect on the Heisman either...
A game worthy of the buildup. But let's face it, these "kids" are already pros in every sense of the word. I'll stick with Division 3 college and high school football.
2
Why no mention of the fact that Alabama and Georgia entered the game having both been beaten by Auburn, a team that went on to lose to the University of Central Florida, the ONLY undefeated team in the nation?
9
Perhaps because it's largely irrelevant to this story. I've seen numerous other stories covering UCF's fine season and bowl game victory.
3
Hmmm, another temporary national championship winner. Thankfully, Alabama didn't get so tired of winning that it would give up like Trump did yesterday, deciding to shrink the economy instead of growing it, as he had long promised. Too much golf - too many mulligans. Or, in football terms, illegal forward motion. No longer worth the effort, "Mr" President?
It is embarassing to our country when Trump uses the military as costume props in his manic search for crowd approval. It undercuts the dignity of our servicemen. Every decent citizen should object to this.
15
And the implications of this football game are NOTHING. It is soma for the people. If people expended this much energy on issues that matter- education, congressional integrity, world peace, friendship- it would make a difference. A little sad that what motivates people is worthless. and Saban makes $10mm per year but the players are unpaid amateurs "for the sake of the game".
7
I don't disagree, but will admit to enjoying the game. Here are some possible solutions to satisfy us both.
1) Quit pretending that these are 'students'. Most are not. They are professional athletes and should be well paid.
2) Get rid of the NFL. This game is dangerous enough, but if we were to limit potential playing time to a few years, we would likely save a lot of guys terrible injury. Further, we subsidize this wildly overpaid industry through sports stadiums and tax breaks. It is truly scandalous.
3) Let the schools run the football programs like they are doing now, but pay the athletes and pool the massive proceeds to fund higher education. The massive amount of money should be widely shared across all higher ed, not just the winning schools though it probably makes sense to incentivize in some way. Imagine all the NFL money following to education. Not sports scholarships, but to the actual mission of higher education, like libraries or lower tuition. It would be a 'game changer'.
4) consider changing the game to be played like rugby, no helmets, no protection. Take away the armor and you will very likely take away a lot of the injury.
Tons of people are eager to pay to watch the games. There is big money in sports, and finding ways to get money to flow is often a good thing. Lets get honest about the 'student athlete' and lets tap into a huge revenue stream for the good of society.
It's ridiculous that the coaches make that kind of money, while the individuals actually risking their mental health every time they suit up make nothing. Football is rotten.
I rarely watch college ball unless the WI Badgers are involved. But last night, some friends stopped by to watch the game because their TV died. I thought it was going to be a boring, painful, long evening. Holy cow, it was anything but (except for the length of the torture both teams doled out to the fans). I could not believe what I was watching. Just when all hope was lost - BAMB - overtime and then that throw by Tagovailoa to Smith! WOW!!!
To all of those Alabama fans - now you have a slice of the bewilderment, excitement and miraculous moments us Green Bay Packer fans feel every time Aaron Rogers takes his trailing team into the final seconds, throws one of those glorious Hail Mary passes or slips in a sneak pass to not only win a game, but the big game! When the underdog takes the title, it just makes the victory all the more sweeter. My heart is still pounding over this beautiful upset! Last night was football - at its best!!
Sincere congrats to Alabama and to Coach Nick Saban. I might even start watching college ball after last night.
10
From a Bama fan: Thank you, Marge! Go Packers!
Another great game ruined by poor officiating!
Congrats (Not really) to Bama. Alot of people will agree they shouldnt of been in the Playoffs in the 1st place. But when your a BIG school that brings in a ton of money enough said.
2
Big Ten officials horrible in this game 4 calls went for Bama that shouldn’t have. While the freshman QB was impressive when you dont call slamming the GA QBs head down you’re influencing the game.
4
At the end of the game, Tagovailoa said that even before his family he had to thank Jesus for the win.
I assume that someone will tell him that if that's true, then Jesus must hate the Georgia team. If they believe him, it would sense that those who are Christians convert to Judaism or Islam or become atheists.
2
Too bad football causes brain damage, it would make a good substitute for politics as far as something to follow these days. But considering the headache I get after reading about that, the numbness from brain damage might be actually a great way to relieve that pain. And then Michael Wolff could more convincingly justify a claim that Trump suffers from traumatic brain injury which is far more objective than saying that in his opinion it is obvious to him and to everyone that Trump is merely crazy.
I'm an Auburn graduate so you know where I stand in regards to Alabama. Nick Saban is the Kingpin of college football in terms of coaching and recruiting. He ruthlessly yanked the QB who got them to the Championship but that's Nick Saban. It's all about winning at any cost. Just glad he didn't put Tagovailoa in the game they lost to Auburn last November. War Eagle!
You must be the AU fan who flies flag up the street from me. Having grown up in Alabama going to games during the Bear Bryant era, watching Joe Namath play as a skinny college kid, and steeped in the rivalry between your team and mine, it's just in my blood. Can't help but say Roll Tide (with a sincere tip of the hat to the War Eagle)!
1
People think I make this up, but I remember the teachers pushing the television on carts into the classrooms in 5th grade so we could all watch Bear Bryant's funeral. I went to Auburn ultimately, but like you say, we're steeped in it.
1
For all of football's evils - head injuries, rank distortion of higher education priorities, coach salary insanity, ridiculous game length - this game had some true highlights in the form of character lessons:
The illuminated Fxxx Trump protest broadcast on the side of the stadium, the Alabama player's anti-Trump words as he ran into the field, and the public anti-Trump booing in the stadium were good lessons for how we can continue to let freedom ring in this time of Russian collusion and Trump propaganda
Trump forgetting the words to the national anthem on camera, when he never should've tried to sing it in public after his debacle trying to sing it publicly in 2017, is a good lesson to Congress that they must vote to conduct his mental fitness review
Hurt's highly visible demotion in the season's most important game must have been soul-crushing, but he handled it with the utmost class and leadership during and after the game - a good lesson for our petulant-in-chief/fingerpointer-in-chief
Saban's game-ending quote - “I don’t think you give anybody a game ball,” Saban said, noting the remarkable nature of the game. “It has to be a team ball, and that’s exactly what we’ll do with it" is a never-taught lesson for our narcissist-in-chief, that teams have value, and respect and courtesy are signs of character
Last, an all-important lesson that the state of Alabama voting in Democrat Doug Jones over pedophile Roy Moore paid it forward!
4
bread and circuses, people, bread and circuses
3
That poor kicker today.
2
Does the toy department of life really constitute front page news?
2
You clicked on it.
4
Probably not, David, but I suppose it’s fair to look at the Alabama football victory story in another light; as a less offensive column space diversion than what Is regurgitated from Trump’s Twitter account and stuck on the front page every morning.
1
Superb SEC matchup with an outcome other than what I desired but still a fine game. College football at its best.
3
Entertaining and certainly patriotic, but sorry Ted- "college" football at it's best? More like a spectacle worthy of Nero.
1
So, Does Alabama now get promoted to the NFL replacing Cleveland?
Or do the top -3- teams in the CFB playoffs get promoted and the bottom 3 in the NFL get "regulated" as in English football?
4
$11,525,000. Saban's compensation this year.
Who says money can't buy love.
1
This game was the stuff that dreams are made of: a storybook second half with an unknown and unherelded player replacing the experienced and trusted star and turning a sure loss into an improbable win. Kind of like the ingenue on Broadway standing in for an ailing star and becoming a star herself in one glorious, unforgettable performance. It almost, but not quite, makes one forget the brain sequelae of playing football.
6
Maybe if they started the game a little earlier (EST) or had the title game on a Saturday, more people could have enjoyed it.
5
There needs to be an 8 team playoff with the division champs of the power 5 conferences automatically in and 3 at large seats. Ohio State which dismantled USC wasn't invited. UCF, the only undefeated team in division 1 which beat Auburn, the only team to defeat Alabama, wasn't invited.
Who is the best team in the country? We don't really know.
4
Even with 8 team playoff, UCF would not be invited. I believe, before the bowl game they were ranked outside of top 10.
The playoff is taking the luster out of season ending rivalry games, more playoff teams would make them mute.
No matter the number of teams in playoff, there always will be, has been, a spirited discussion on the fringes. Even in basketball with 68 teams chosen, there always is a discussion about the 69th and 70th teams left behind.
Even if part of your argument is accepted and Ohio State is brought into the playoff, which other 3 un-deserving teams would be invited to try for national championship? It would simply dilute the field.
I am saving the arguments related to tax on student athletes for a more educated discussion forum.
1
Ohio State got blown out by Iowa. Dismantling an inferior bowl means nothing. UCF would have been interesting but other than Clemson they would have lost in the playoffs.
1
Amazing that a freshman can be plugged into the biggest game of the year and come through. There are a lot of problems with major college sports, but this was a great moment.
6
Anyone who thought this game was not exciting must be a soccer fan. It went down to the wire and had plenty of plot twists. Yes, the game represented much of what is wrong with college football. The fact that Coach Saban earns $7 million in salary at the same time that many of his players will leave college with little to show for their participation but football memories is wrong. The fact that college football primarily benefits the colleges, the TV networks and the NFL but not the student-athletes, many of whom may not be able to take advantage of a free education because of training regimens, is wrong.
But the sheer spectacle (love the band), the enthusiasm of the fans and players, the athleticism and the coming together of all ages and races on the team and in the stands, that counts for something as well. Today, having thoroughly enjoyed the game, I see the glass as half full.
13
What's wrong with soccer? Soccer has plenty of exciting moments. This game was great and what we expect from a championship game.
2
I'm a soccer fan, and I found this game boring. Really boring. Football contains, roughly 7-8 minutes of action. I've seen enough beer and munchie ads to last me a year. The game lasted almost 4 hours. Lost me at HT.
2
Actually, soccer contains about the same amount of 7 - 8 minutes of "action" as well. Every play in football (both on the offense and the defense) has the potential for an unexpected magnificent outcome. So, those few minute of actual play raise blood pressure and interest and suspense. Most of soccer is kicking the ball back and forth on the useless 2/3rds of the field (yay, kicking it back to the goalie!! Wow!! Exciting!! Action, baby!!) and only gets to football's level of excitement when the ball is finally . . . finally . . .finally in the 1/3 of the field where a goal is possible and interest level increases to the level of a football play. So, same, same.
For a state that usually ends up at the bottom of almost every list for education, life expectancy, quality of life, etc., it boggles the mind that so much money is spent on a game. And yes folks, at the end of the day, its just that -- a game.
16
Another predictable outcome by a powerhouse dynasty. But, give Nick Saban and the team credit, amazing talent.
Now, if we could focus on the fact that the NCAA & network television profits immensely from these games, with the student-athletes unable to reap any benefits. It is a hundred million dollar industry, and while paying the student-athletes directly would be an incredibly difficult to system to construct, they should still be able to profit through other means: promotions, jersey sales, advertisements, etc. The NCAA is completely fooling themselves if they believe a few academic scholarships is fair compensation for what these players bring to the table.
3
What’s with Georgia and blowing big games-first the Falcons, now the Bulldogs. Must be a lot of grief counselors there.
Great game. Plus Trump and Kendrick Lamar!
2
Exciting game by equally matched teams.
5
Alabama winning all the time like the Patriots winning all the time makes football at the end of a season so boring. I watched 10 minutes of this game and lost interest. Might have watched longer if our doofus president who pretended to sing the national anthem hadn’t showed up.
36
No kidding. Dynasties are dull, unless you're a fan of that team. Alabama, Patriots, Cavs/Warriors, UConn women. It's a pretty boring era for sports. At least Tiger has come back to earth and golf has some unpredictability again.
2
ESPN and the television industry have corrupted and ruined college football. I watched the OU/Georgia game. Yes, it was exciting when things were happening, but it was interminable. I did not watch this game even though I have been interested in college football for a long time. If you actually stop and think about those uniforms that you see in the picture you realize what an incredible amount of money is wasted on college football players. Why do we do this? Who is really thinking about it? What else could we do with those billions of dollars? Something useful? Something meaningful?
21
The great thing about America, Ralph, is that if the game is too long for you, you can go to bed and read about it in the morning.
4
Football (and all athletics) is about storytelling -- the stories of great effort, fine youth, etc etc. If you don't like this, then zero out -- in your world -- all of literature, movies, plays, etc. etc. Where is the "something meaningful" in Harry Potter or, for that matter, the Oscars? Its all stories, really. Humans love stories. Let them play.
Wow. How exciting that game must have been. This is what makes football great.
5
Coach Saban has done it again. Roll Tide Roll!
6
College overtime rules - rule.
Congrats to Alabama on winning a game with a thoroughly entertaining second half and overtime period. Momentum swung from one side to another to keep us at the edge of our seats.
A fine example, also, of how the college overtime rules make for a more exciting finish than those of the NFL.
26
It makes me sad that these young men are putting their mental health at risk. Football can’t go away soon enough. Thank god mothers will not let their boys play anymore. Perhaps in a decade or two we will have all woke up and football will be no more.
20
We should instead get rid of the military.
I would like to offer my heartiest congratulations to the University of Central Florida on its undefeated national championship season.
51
Just think how much Disney/ESPN and American sports fans would benefit if the script allowed underdogs to win.
1
Hard to argue that point, James. Central Fla. beat Auburn handily in their bowl game. Auburn beat both Alabama and Georgia handily. Hope the loss of their head coach at UCF doesn't stop that train. And I'm an Auburn homey.
Wareagle!
2
And UCF's final victory?
They defeated that Auburn team that beat both Alabama and Georgia in the regular season.
3
Why is this news? Front page? Grown Men playing with balls. Ugh.
16
Perhaps grown men playing with guns is more interesting? For all its faults, and there are many, college sports at least provides some relief from the drumbeat of the daily horror show that usually crowds the headlines.
5
And attending educational institutions that only make the news because of their sports teams.
You obviously have no appreciation of athleticism, an important part of the human condition, nor the incredible sacrifice and brilliant tactics that go into sports at this level. Your loss.
3
And the score for kneeling was?
Who cares.
6
I am a long time NY Giants fan. I remember when Mark Bavaro, their great tight end, "took a knee" after every touchdown; however, it was fora different, humble reason: he then made the sign of the cross on his chest.
1
Kneeling? What are you talking about? Who took a knee? Did you watch even a little bit of this, so that you might have a clue what you're talking about? Obviously not.
1
I’m not sports literate but I’m always amused that among the divisiveness in the country when it comes to football (and all sports) how all the black and white players from all over the country become totally colorblind pursuing their common goals.
32
Agreed - football has always been a great uniter. Even families that have difficulty sometimes e.g. father/sons can always talk football.
I don't want to get into politics, but for me, this was a main reason the NFL situation was so troubling this year. Went from a uniting force to a divisive one.
Dan T,
The NFL is a divisive one if you expect people to behave in a manner you deem acceptable.
2
Those good, white "Christians" in the South just love their black athletes and entertainers so much. Can't be a racist if you support all the great black athletes, right ?
They just don't want black folks anywhere near the Oval Office.
Got it ?
3
A game watched by millions on pay TV, attracting who knows how much gambling money, and worthy of coverage at the top of the NYT website. But the players are unpaid "amateurs" and college sports programs deserve tax-exempt status because they're all about education. Got it.
69
Tua Tagovailoa to the rescue !
Another great Hawaiian saves the day.
I'm a little surprised that Trump hasn't sent investigators to Hawaii to confirm Tagovailoa's college eligibility; I can hear the Birther Liar channeling his inner fraud: "I have people that actually have been studying it and they cannot believe what they're finding."
What a game !
68
You are so tied in knots about politics that you can't even watch sports without it interfering. That's truly sad.
3
From Hawaii, not Hawaiian. The name looks to be Samoan.
And Samoans like to be identified as Samoan.
1
Right! Tua Tagovailoa sounds suspiciously foreign, don't it... Does he even have a passport to come to America?
1
For the tens of millions watching on the East Coast, the game did not end until after midnight. How many millions turned off the T.V. after a first half which was better at inducing sleep than excitement? In the first half, Alabama's offense had the imagination of a bad high school team with a QB it did not trust to throw the ball. The biggest play in the under 100 yards of offense was a 31 yard QB keeper.
A problem with the college game is its interminable length. Why stop the clock after a first down? And the excessive minutes of commercials makes the game a bore. Between 9:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. there were over 8 mins. of Ads. For fans not really interested in a SEC championship game masquerading as a Championship game, waking up sleep deprived was not worth it.
Finally, the game was relegated to pay tv--ESPN. So for those who do not, or cannot, fork out the hefty monthly fee for accessing ESPN, they could not view it. But in the end, they are the lucky ones for not having to endure another over-hyped game.
Who won again?
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Scott, you are obviously a Georgia fan.
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Give me a break! Silly criticism of a great college game, well played by both teams. Here's a suggestion for your future enjoyment of televised college football: the mute button; use it freely during commercial breaks. And you could move to the west coast where the game is televised starting at 5p.m., giving you plenty of time to get your beauty sleep.
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Here is another option. Record the game. Watch it later. Fast forwarding though the frontal lobe melting commercials and the halftime noise reduces the game time by 40 %. Why is this a problem?
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